Rady Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $3.9 million (2024)
• Success Rate: Not applicable (no public application process)
• Decision Time: Not applicable (invitation only)
• Grant Range: $400 - $1,000,000 (with larger gifts for naming opportunities)
• Geographic Focus: San Diego and Southern California (primary), with some national and Canadian grants
• Total Assets: Approximately $74-81 million

Contact Details

Address: 3430 Carmel Mountain Rd., Ste. 150, San Diego, CA 92121-1078
Phone: (858) 345-1463
EIN: 85-0715670
Website: No public website

Note: The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications or provide contact methods for grant inquiries.

Overview

The Rady Foundation was established in 2002 by Ernest and Evelyn Rady, both Giving Pledge signatories who signed the pledge in 2018. The foundation focuses on health and human services, education, Jewish causes, and arts and culture in San Diego and Southern California. Ernest Rady, born in Winnipeg, Canada in 1937, is an investor and entrepreneur who founded American Assets Trust, a financial services and real estate firm, and formerly chaired Insurance Company of the West. Evelyn Rady is a former social worker who held senior positions at Jewish Family Service. The foundation operates as a highly selective family foundation, providing multi-year support to a small corps of grantees. Since signing the Giving Pledge, the Radys have significantly ramped up their philanthropic giving, with total contributions to causes exceeding $400 million. The foundation's grantmaking philosophy centers on Ernest Rady's "Return on Life (ROL)" approach, which emphasizes helping resources "produce the most benefits for the most people" and creating a "multiplier effect" through strategic investments in organizations.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Rady Foundation does not operate formal grant programs with fixed application cycles. Grants are made at the discretion of Ernest and Evelyn Rady to pre-selected organizations. Grant amounts typically range from $400 to $1 million, though significantly larger gifts have been made for major projects bearing the Rady name (such as the $200 million to Rady Children's Hospital and $50 million to the Salvation Army).

Priority Areas

Health and Human Services

• Children's healthcare (particularly Rady Children's Hospital)
• Homelessness and housing assistance
• Social services for vulnerable populations
• Organizations include: Rady Children's Hospital, Salvation Army of San Diego, Jewish Family Services of San Diego, Childhelp, United Service Organization Council of San Diego

Education

• Higher education institutions
• K-12 education programs
• Youth development
• Organizations include: University of California San Diego, University of Manitoba (Rady College of Medicine), Access Youth Academy, Junior Achievement of San Diego County, Francis Parker School, Horatio Alger Association

Jewish Causes

• Jewish community organizations
• Israeli and international Jewish causes
• Organizations include: Jewish Federation of San Diego County, Hebrew Free Loan of San Diego, Congregation Beth Israel, Jewish Institute for National Security of America, American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, Birthright Israel, American Jewish Committee

Arts and Culture

• Performing arts organizations in San Diego
• Organizations include: San Diego Symphony Orchestra, San Diego Opera, La Jolla Music Society

What They Don't Fund

The foundation does not publicly specify exclusions, but their giving history shows a clear preference for established institutions in their core focus areas within San Diego. Organizations outside San Diego and Southern California, or those not in their priority sectors, are unlikely to receive funding.

Governance and Leadership

Founders and Primary Decision-Makers

• Ernest S. Rady - Founder, investor, and entrepreneur; born August 28, 1937, in Winnipeg, Canada. Earned a Bachelor in Commerce (University Gold Medal) and Juris Doctor from the University of Manitoba. Founded American Assets Trust and formerly chaired Insurance Company of the West. Moved to San Diego in 1966 at age 29.
• Evelyn Rady - Co-founder and former social worker with senior leadership experience at Jewish Family Service. Earned BA (1960), BSW (1961), and MSW (1967) from the University of Manitoba.

Philanthropic Philosophy

Ernest Rady on their giving: "Because of these and other blessings, Evelyn and I believe it is important to share our good fortune with others."

On targeting impact: "In my philanthropy, I have tried to invest in things I think will produce the most benefits for the most people."

On their Return on Life (ROL) philosophy (articulated in 2015): "We want the resources that we've been fortunate enough to accumulate to help other people," noting the "multiplier effect that individual could have on others" and concluding "For me that is the best ROL of all."

When discussing their $50 million gift to the Salvation Army: "We have great confidence in this organization, so we are happy to put our resources in their hands. I'm really proud of what we're doing."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. The Rady Foundation does not accept unsolicited applications and does not provide contact methods for grant inquiries. Grants are made exclusively to pre-selected organizations identified by Ernest and Evelyn Rady. The foundation tends to offer multi-year support to a small group of grantees with whom they have established relationships.

Getting on Their Radar

According to Inside Philanthropy, "Networking with a family member or past grantee might be the only way to gain this foundation's attention."

The foundation's giving pattern shows a strong preference for:

• Organizations where the Radys have a personal connection or board involvement (Ernest Rady served as Chair of Children's Hospital and Health Center Board from 1990-1993)
• Institutions in San Diego where they can see direct community impact
• Organizations aligned with their personal background and interests (Jewish causes, healthcare, education)
• Opportunities for challenge grants with matching commitments (the Radys often structure grants as "one-to-one matching funds" to encourage other donors)

Organizations that have successfully received funding typically have established track records, strong leadership that the Radys trust (as evidenced by Ernest's quote about having "great confidence" in the Salvation Army), and clear opportunities for creating the "multiplier effect" that aligns with their ROL philosophy.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - grants are made at the discretion of the founders without a formal application or review timeline.

Success Rates

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept applications. However, the foundation is known to provide multi-year support to organizations in their core grantee portfolio.

Application Success Factors

While there is no formal application process, the Rady Foundation's giving patterns reveal several key factors that attract their support:

Alignment with ROL Philosophy The foundation prioritizes organizations that can demonstrate a "multiplier effect" - where resources invested create broader impact across communities. Ernest Rady has stated he wants to "invest in things I think will produce the most benefits for the most people."

Established Track Record All known grantees are well-established organizations with proven leadership and operational excellence. The Radys emphasize confidence in organizational leadership, as demonstrated by Ernest's statement: "We have great confidence in this organization, so we are happy to put our resources in their hands."

Naming and Legacy Opportunities Major gifts have been made to projects that bear the Rady name, including:

• Rady Children's Hospital (nearly $400 million total, including $60 million naming gift in 2006, $120 million for the Rady Children's Institute for Genomic Medicine in 2014, and $200 million for the Rady Reimagine Fund in 2018)
• Rady Center (Salvation Army - $50 million)
• Rady Shell (San Diego Symphony - $15 million lead gift)
• Rady School of Management at UC San Diego ($100 million commitment)
• Rady College of Medicine at University of Manitoba

Willingness to Match and Leverage The foundation frequently structures grants as challenge commitments with matching funds to encourage other donors, demonstrating their interest in catalyzing broader support.

San Diego Focus with Personal Connections While they support some organizations nationally and in Canada (particularly connected to Ernest's Winnipeg roots), the vast majority of funding goes to San Diego-based organizations where the Radys can maintain personal involvement and witness direct impact.

Long-term Relationships The foundation provides ongoing, multi-year support to a "small corps of grantees" rather than making one-time grants to many organizations.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No public application process exists - This foundation exclusively funds pre-selected organizations and does not accept unsolicited proposals
• Relationship-driven grantmaking - Networking with past grantees, board members, or the Rady family may be the only pathway to consideration
• Focus on multiplier effect - The Radys seek investments that create broad community impact, not just direct service delivery
• Major gifts require naming opportunities - The largest grants (ranging from $15 million to $200 million) have been tied to naming rights and legacy-building
• San Diego priority - Organizations based in or serving San Diego and Southern California have the strongest alignment with their geographic focus
• Trust in leadership matters - The Radys emphasize confidence in organizational leadership and proven track records when making funding decisions
• Challenge grants preferred - Consider opportunities where Rady funding could be structured to leverage additional donor support through matching commitments

References

• Inside Philanthropy: "Rady Family Foundation" - https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/find-a-grant-places/southern-california-grants/rady-family-foundation (Accessed January 2026)
• Inside Philanthropy: "The Radys: How a Powerful Donor Couple Has Been Giving in San Diego" (May 25, 2019) - https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/home/2019-5-25-the-radys-how-a-powerful-donor-couple-has-been-giving-in-san-diego (Accessed January 2026)
• Cause IQ: "Rady Foundation" - https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/rady-foundation,850715670/ (Accessed January 2026)
• San Diego Jewish World: "The Philanthropy of Ernest and Evelyn Rady" (November 26, 2023) - https://www.sdjewishworld.com/2023/11/26/the-philanthropy-of-ernest-and-evelyn-rady/ (Accessed January 2026)
• Philanthropy News Digest: "Ernest and Evelyn Rady Give $200 Million to Rady Children's Hospital" - https://philanthropynewsdigest.org/news/ernest-and-evelyn-rady-give-200-million-to-rady-children-s-hospital (Accessed January 2026)
• Horatio Alger Association: "Ernest S. Rady" - https://horatioalger.org/members/detail/ernest-s-rady/ (Accessed January 2026)
• The Chronicle of Philanthropy: "No. 17: Ernest and Evelyn Rady" - https://www.philanthropy.com/article/no-17-ernest-and-evelyn-rady/ (Accessed January 2026)
• University of Manitoba: "Ernest Rady" - https://news.umanitoba.ca/ernest-rady/ (Accessed January 2026)
• ICW Group: "The Legacy of Giving: ICW Group Founder Ernest Rady's Philanthropy" - https://www.icwgroup.com/articles-insights/news/the-legacy-of-giving-icw-group-founder-ernest-radys-philanthropy/ (Accessed January 2026)